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News (October 2009)
Flood Relief Program Provides Supplies
and Counseling in Northern Ghana
Flood victims from the West Mamprusi and Kpandai districts of Northern Ghana await distribution of relief items.
“My name is Maria Sooraana and I come from Kpasenkpe community, one of the worst hit by the floods. Three bedrooms and a bath house in our house collapsed as a result of the floods. Our escape was a miracle. We rushed out with the children wading in the water. All around the house there was rushing water and we were not sure of the other remaining rooms not collapsing. There was confusion all over and the community members were running around frantically to seek shelter. Up ‘til this day many have moved to be put up with relatives. It is still raining and we cannot understand the weather again.”
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Former Combatants in Côte d'Ivoire
Trained and Reintegrated
 Participants in OIC Côte d’Ivoire's rehabilitation project tend to crops during a vegetable production course.
In a nation wracked by conflict for much of this decade, OIC International’s Côte d’Ivoire affiliate is taking the lead in a program to train and reintegrate former rebel combatants and youth involved in the civil crisis into daily life and to strengthen the capacity of host communities to receive them.
“The project, not yet a year old, has achieved 93 percent success,” noted Kassi Elia, executive director of OIC-Côte d’Ivoire, who also serves as coordinator of the socio-economic reintegration project. “More than 650 of the 700 selected beneficiaries from the cities of Bouaké and Katiola have been rehabilitated and placed in jobs or helped to establish their own businesses,” he said.
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OIC International Board Adds Invaluable
Expertise with Five New Members
OIC International has elected five new members to its Board of Directors. Named to the board were:
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Entrepreneurship Development Center in Nigeria
Provides Business Training, Economic Growth
Ifeanyi Frederick Ifeanyi, graduate of OIC International's Nigeria EDC program, stands inside one of his two boutiques.
When Ifeanyi Frederick Ifeanyi walked into OIC International’s Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) in Kano, Nigeria, he was the owner of a small and unsuccessful boutique. His family’s sole bread winner, Ifeanyi struggled to make ends meet for himself, his wife, and their three young children. Today, following EDC training and two microfinance loans, Ifeanyi has expanded his business and is the proud owner of two successful boutiques.
“Being a part of the OIC International EDC training was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I have been able to payback the loan of ₦100,000¹ from Integrated Micro Finance Bank (IMFB) and have applied for another loan of ₦500.000 from Oceanic bank…I make daily sales of ₦40,000 to ₦60,000 on the average. I have also gotten a second shop because, as you can see, the present one is now small.”
¹One Nigerian Naira (₦) is equal to 0.70 cents U.S.
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